40th National Age Group Chess Championships 2025 (Singapore)
This is the 40th edition of Singapore’s premier youth chess event, the Singapore National Age Group Championships 2025, organised by the Singapore Chess Federation. It will run from 9 to 13 December 2025 at Our Tampines Hub in Singapore and welcomes players from Singapore and abroad across multiple age categories to compete for national titles, invitation to training programmes, and master norms.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 9 – 13 December 2025 |
| 📍 Location | Our Tampines Hub, 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 528523 |
| ♟️ Format | 9-round Swiss System • Classical time-control |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE Standard rated |
| ✅ Eligibility | Open to players meeting age-group criteria with valid FIDE ID |
| 🎯 Key incentives | National champions in each age group (Open & Girls) • Invitation to National Training Programme (NTP) • National Master norms for U20 champions |
📂 Sections / Age Categories
| Category | Born on or after | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Under 7 | 1 Jan 2018 | Boys & Girls compete together with separate prizes |
| Under 9 | 1 Jan 2016 | |
| Under 11 | 1 Jan 2014 | |
| Under 13 | 1 Jan 2012 | |
| Under 15 | 1 Jan 2010 | |
| Under 20 | 1 Jan 2005 | Both Open & Girls; top 3 in U20 invited to National Championships final |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Time control: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1.
Recording required throughout each game.
Draw by mutual agreement not permitted before Black’s 30th move.
Default time (arrival): 1 hour after scheduled start (or as per announcement).
Tie-break order:
Direct Encounter
Buchholz Cut-1
Buchholz
Sonneborn-Berger
Sum of Progressive Scores
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, 9 Dec | 08:45 | Tournament Briefing |
| Tue, 9 Dec | 09:00 | Round 1 |
| Tue, 9 Dec | 15:00 | Round 2 |
| Wed, 10 Dec | 09:00 | Round 3 |
| Wed, 10 Dec | 15:00 | Round 4 |
| Thu, 11 Dec | 09:00 | Round 5 |
| Thu, 11 Dec | 15:00 | Round 6 |
| Fri, 12 Dec | 09:00 | Round 7 |
| Fri, 12 Dec | 15:00 | Round 8 |
| Sat, 13 Dec | 09:00 | Round 9 |
| Sat, 13 Dec | ~13:00 | Prize Presentation (may shift if tied) |
📝 Registration
Deadline: 25 November 2025, 18:00 hrs (SGT)
Early-bird discount applied if registered by 15 October 2025
Entry fees (SGD):
Singaporean / PR players: SGD 174.40
Foreign players: SGD 272.50
No refund once payment is made
Valid FIDE ID required; foreign players must arrange through respective federation
Players may only participate in one category; playing in wrong age group voids entry
👥 Organiser
Organised by the Singapore Chess Federation (SCF) with support from Community Sports Network @ Tampines West
Website: https://singaporechess.org.sg
Tournament contact: singchess@singaporechess.org.sg
🛎️ Venue
Our Tampines Hub – modern event centre with spacious hall, amenities and easy public-transport access (MRT Tampines / bus interchange).
Address: 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 528523
Other
Play-off format: If tie for National Champion in any category, up to 4 players qualify for play-off. Format:
2 rounds Rapid (15′ + 10″) → if still tied →
2 rounds Blitz (3′ + 2″) → if still tied →
Armageddon (5′ for White, 4′ for Black; Black draw odds)
Fair Play & device policy: Phones, smart watches, smart devices must be switched off and stored in bag; breaches may lead to forfeiture.
Participants who finish top % of category receive invitation to National Training Programme (NTP) and National Junior Squad (NJS)
National Master norms: Awarded to U20 champions (Open & Girls)
Appeals: Appeal fee SGD 200; must be submitted within 1 hour of game conclusion
Organizer reserves right to amend selection/training criteria or to reject entries without reason
We look forward to welcoming youth players from Singapore and abroad for a week of strategic battles, personal growth and celebration of chess talent at the 40th Singapore National Age Group Championships 2025.
Organizer
The Singapore Chess Federation (SCF) is the national governing body for chess in Singapore. Founded in 1949, it oversees the promotion, organization and regulation of chess nationwide. Since then, SCF has grown from a small volunteer group into a modern, professionally run sports federation. It is recognized by FIDE, regional chess bodies and the main sports authorities in Singapore.
Furthermore, SCF is based at the Singapore Intellectual Games Centre in Bishan, which hosts many federation activities. Here it coordinates national championships, age-group events and school tournaments in classical, rapid and blitz formats. In addition, SCF runs selection events for international teams and festival-style opens such as the Singapore Chess Festival. Through training squads and coaching programmes, it provides clear pathways for talented juniors and ambitious adult players.
Today, the federation is led by a team of experienced players and officials. Key leaders include IM Hsu Li Yang as President and GM Kevin Goh as CEO. Moreover, SCF aims to build a thriving and inclusive chess community across the island. Therefore, its projects combine high-performance goals with outreach programmes in schools, community clubs and public events.
Address: 51 Bishan Street 13, #02-01A SIGC, Singapore 579799
Phone: +65 6352 9690
Website: https://singaporechess.org.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sgchessfed/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgchessfed/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sgchessfed